Made to Worship
Something I struggled with when my son was diagnosed with having Down syndrome was the thought that Brady would never be able to know that there is a God. It was a sinking feeling within to believe my child couldn’t enjoy a relationship like I enjoy with our Creator. My ideas of “normal” worship were limited.
It makes me laugh thinking of it now. I’ve since learned that God has had things figured out all along. Here’s how the Lord began to change my limited way of understanding my son’s purpose (and mine, for that matter).
When Brady was seven we moved to Pittsburgh for one year. Brady was on the “2 plus 2 plus 2 track” in school (we made it up), which had Brady in regular-ed kindergarten for two years before moving on to first grade for two years, then regular ed second grade. The extended time gave Brady the extra he needed to learn the material being taught. It worked for a while.
Public school in Pittsburgh lacked the warm fuzzy “oh, we love our Brady” experience we had enjoyed in South Carolina. These teachers and therapists called it like they saw it. Brady’s behavior was disruptive. One example is he would stand up on his seat (daily) on the bus ride home. I get it. It’s not at all safe, yet the little guy could probably see much better out his window when he was standing. But the bus driver wasn’t happy and Brady’s big brother, Tucker (a mere fourth grader at the time), was given the huge responsibility of making sure that Brady behaved. It was a rough year.
A parent can get pretty weary hearing reports of their child’s misbehaviors and the lack of progress and limitations each time they have a meet up with a teacher. I was feeling very discouraged and very defeated. And we were still in kindergarten (round two)!
Then this happened.
Our family was attending a church in Pittsburgh that enjoyed a “freer” style of worship than what we were accustomed to. Lots of folks raised their hands during our time of singing contemporary praise songs. I will never forget this particular Sunday morning. Brady was standing up on the pew (no bus driver present to say he couldn’t) and he was mimicking what many others in the congregation were doing. Brady was raising his hands in worship and he was making a joyful “noise” to the Lord! He may not have understood what he was doing at that time (he does now), but God clearly spoke to my heart that morning. I am grateful for God’s sweet tenderness to show us truth when we most need to grow.
The Spirit of God inside my son, though my son’s intellect is limited compared to our standards of normal, is 100 percent. It lacks nothing. The Holy Spirit who resides in every child of God who calls on the name of Jesus to be his Lord and Savior is fully alive and present inside that individual. The Holy Spirit is not “handicapped” in a heart that worships God. When I realized this truth I was able to see the incredible value God had given my son - to worship the One who created him!
May I say, as one who struggles with being driven to achieve, how freeing it is to realize that God delights in his children JUST FOR WHO THEY ARE. We don’t have to achieve or earn anything. God’s love for us is a gift. And for my precious son, with his limited “abilities” to lift up his hands and sing his praises to the Lord….God could not be more pleased.
Psalm 150:1-2, 6
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him in his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Today may you find great purpose in praising the Lord!
How are you worshipping God today?